Delta council last week approved a proposed public consultation process for a major redevelopment application in Ladner Village.
The Dunbar Lumber site at the corner of Bridge and Elliott is proposed to be transformed into a six-storey, mixed-use project. The new development includes a courtyard-style building with commercial space and parking on the ground floor, parking on the second floor and residential on the remaining four levels.
Having been revised since it was originally submitted last year, the proposal includes 129 condo units.
When the application was submitted last year, it required an Official Community Plan amendment, however, that’s no longer the case as council since then has approved major changes to the Ladner Village Area Plan. It means the proposed development would adhere to the revised OCP, so a public hearing would not be required.
The consultation process includes a sign on the property, notifying surrounding property owners, creating a project website, using social media, consulting external agencies and internal city departments and holding two public information meetings.
Planning staff are to finalize public engagement materials, provide notices and anticipate scheduling information meetings for January 2023.
Coun. Alicia Guichon, who had voted in opposition to the new Ladner Village OCP, told her colleagues she feels there was an assumption by local residents when the new OCP was approved that a public hearing would be held for the Dunbar Lumber site redevelopment. She said she doesn’t want the public to feel “misled” by the process.
Coun. Dylan Kruger noted there’s been 30 years of failed attempts to have a new plan for the village to encourage much-needed revitalization. The proposed Dunbar Lumber redevelopment is the first major proposal under the new plan, he added.
